A fine Fabergé silver, gem-set, and guilloché enamel clock, workmaster: Michael Perchin, St Petersburg, 1899-1903

of hexagonal form, with emerald green translucent enamel over a sunray engine-turned ground, applied with ribbon-tied laurel swags, the ribbons set at the centre with seed pearls, the white enamel dial with Arabic numerals and gold openwork hands, framed with a hexagonal surround of white translucent enamel mounted with green enamel beads, the outer border of palmettes set at each corner with rosettes, with ivory backing and silver strut, marked Fabergé with workmaster's initials and scratched inventory number 3488, 88 standard, in original fitted case marked Fabergé

By tradition this was a gift from the Count Alexander Benckendorff, the Russian Ambassador to London, to Mrs Olive Guthrie of Torosay Castle, Scotland, in 1911
Thence by descent

Count Alexander Benckendorff (1849-1917), was the last Tsarist Russian Ambassador to England, who served from 1903 until his death shortly before the revolution in 1917.   The Count has been described as liberal, courteous, a shrewd observer.  He maintained the best possible relations with Lord Lansdowne and Sir Edward Grey, and became a favourite at Court and in London society.  His diplomatic skills were tried to the utmost, balancing the moral and materialistic needs of Russia against the increasingly aggressive demands of Germany. 

The Ambassador was a frequent visitor to Torosay Castle, and a close friend of Mrs Olive Guthrie.  Indeed it has been noted that his signature appears in the castle guest book shortly after the death of her husband Walter in 1911.  It has been suggested by the family that the colour of the enamel on this clock, emerald green, may have been specifically chosen to reflect her Irish roots.